Stretta procedure versus proton pump inhibitors for the treatment of nonerosive reflux disease: A 6-month follow-up.

To compare the Stretta procedure with proton pump inhibitors for the treatment of nonerosive reflux disease (NERD).From July 2018 to April 2019, patients diagnosed with NERD and referred for treatment were enrolled. They were treated with either Stretta procedure or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication and followed-up for 6 months.

Visfatin increases miR-21 to promote migration in HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common human malignancy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the serum levels of visfatin and miR-21 in HCC patients, to analysis the relationship between the pathological features and the plasma level of visfatin or miR-21, and to explore the roles of visfatin and miR-21 in migration of HCC cells. Our results showed that the serum levels of visfatin and miR-21 were significant higher in HCC patients than healthy subjects.

Visfatin: an adipokine activator of rat hepatic stellate cells.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of visfatin on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and the possible underlying mechanism. HSC were isolated from the livers of Sprague‑Dawley rats by in situ perfusion of collagenase and pronase and a single‑step density Nycodenz gradient. The culture‑activated cells were serum‑starved and incubated with different concentrations of recombinant visfatin (0, 25, 50, 100 or 200 ng/ml) for 24 h.

[Effects of omeprazole on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatoma cell line HepG2].

Objective: To investigate the effects of omeprazole (OME), a proton pump inhibitor, on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line HepG2.

Methods: HepG2 cells were cultured to the logarithmic phase, and then treated with OME of different concentrations (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 mg/L) for 24 h or 48 h. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay, DNA synthesis was measured with 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu) fluorescent assay and the apoptosis of cells was measured by the Hoechst33342 assay.

[Effects of verapamil on the proliferation, DNA synthesis and migration of human hepatoma cell line HepG2].

Objective: To study the effects of verapamil (VR) on proliferation, DNA synthesis and migration of human hepatoma cell line HepG2.

Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with different concentration of VR (0,1, 5, 10, 15, 20 microg/mL) for different time point. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay and DNA synthesis was determined by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu) fluorescent assay.

[Effect of visfatin on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in rat hepatic stellate cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of visfatin on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods: Culture-activated rat HSCs were incubated with visfatin under different dose (50, 100, 200 ng/mL) for 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours respectively. Total RNA were collected at each time point.